If you want to know why multiple SEC fanbases were intensely following every minor development in the Kerry Blackshear Jr. sweepstakes, look no further than the latest top 25 player rankings from Andy Katz.

Writing for NCAA.com, Katz shared his top 25 college hoops players for the 2019-20. Four players from the SEC made the list, with Blackshear leading the pack at No. 7 overall.

  • Florida G Andrew Nembhard (No. 24)
  • Kentucky G Ashton Hagans (No. 23)
  • Georgia G Anthony Edwards (No. 11)
  • Florida F Kerry Blackshear Jr. (No. 7)

“Blackshear’s arrival via transfer means the Gators could be Final Four bound,” Katz writes.

The Virginia Tech transfer’s arrival is the biggest news of the offseason for Florida basketball, but it wasn’t the only good news. Guard Andrew Nembhard opted to stay at UF after testing the NBA Draft waters.

“Nembhard has become a big-shot maker for the Gators,” Katz wrote of the sophomore.

The (arguably pre-mature) Final Four talk from Katz will certainly excite Gators fans. The college hoops expert says Florida could be joined by another team in the Final Four.

“The Wildcats have the experience at the most important position to make a Final Four run,” Katz writes of Kentucky’s Ashton Hagans.

Georgia certainly has Final Four hopes with Tom Crean as head coach. While Katz didn’t make any predictions for the Bulldogs, he does see Edwards as a potential superstar at UGA.

“Tom Crean has coached a superstar before, but this one may need to produce a bit quicker. And he can,” Katz wrote.

His full top 25 players can be read here.